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Jamie Dornan leaving 'Grey' is 'conjecture'
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Jamie Dornan's press representatives have tried to quell the rising rumor storm that the actor will no longer play Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise.
"All press reports are pure conjecture as the studio (has) not committed to a sequel as yet," said London-based PublicEye communications PR firm in an e-mailed statement Tuesday.
The carefully worded statement does not address some obvious questions, as Focus Features and Universal Studios will certainly do a follow-up to the massive hit. The film has made more than $400 million so far in worldwide box office.
This box office total came after withering reviews from critics and a deep 73% domestic box office slide in its second week of release.
Further, Dornan has signed a contract to play kinky billionaire Christian Grey in follow-up installments of the three-part best-selling book series by author E.L. James.
Australian magazine NW first reported that the actor had decided to depart the series because his wife, Amelia Warner, was uncomfortable with the onscreen bondage-filled sex scenes.
Media reports have run rampant since the initial speculation. Universal Pictures had no official comment on either the statement or the report.
Dornan and co-star Dakota Johnson, who played curious student Anastasia Steele, were also dogged by rumors that they did not get along during and after filming. Johnson presented an award solo at the Oscars on Sunday.
Director Sam Taylor-Johnson addressed that rumor to USA TODAY, saying, "It's a movie. It was work. They get along fine."
Cr. USA Today
